What was Dewey Doing?

Many of you have some knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System, but do you know who came up with the system? In the library world, we have many reasons to be thankful for Melvil Dewey.

Mr. Dewey was born in the hamlet of Adams Center, New York in 1851. For those of you who didn't grow up in another hamlet, not far from Adams Center, like I did, more information might be necessary. Adams Center is located in Jefferson County, which borders Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in northern New York State. Adams Center is about ten miles south of Watertown, the largest city in the county. It was reported in Melvil's obituary that he walked to Watertown to purchase his first dictionary.

From his humble beginnings, however, Melvil Dewey went on to Amherst College, where he received both bachelor and masters degrees. It was while working in the college library that he came up with his decimal system of classifying books. This system uses numbers to divide all subjects into ten main classifications. Those ten sections are further broken down into subject areas that are represented by decimals. Although subjects have changed over the last 130 years, Dewey's system has accommodated those changes. He may have never forseen computers, but they were able to fit nicely into 000-099. Take a look in the 100's for philosophy, 200's are religion, 300's social sciences, 400's language, 500's pure sciences, 600's technology and applied sciences, 700's the arts, 800's literature and 900's geography and history. Since most public libraries use Melvil's system, you can be assured of finding what you are looking for whatever library you visit.

Mr. Dewey didn't stop with his decimal system, however. He went on to establish the first library science school and found the American Library Association and the Library Journal. He was even on the organizing committee for the Lake Placid Winter Olympics in 1932. Unfortunately, he died in December of 1931, but not before accomplishing much in his 80 years.

76 Trombones

Seventy six trombones led the big parade. Well, maybe not, but come this Sunday, the Ledyard Memorial Day Parade will march up Colonel Ledyard Highway. Participating, once again, this year will be your own librarians from the Ledyard Public Library. The library has been a constant presense in the Memorial Day parade for over fifteen years. Not only a regular participant, but a trophy winning entry and we have the trophy to prove it at Gales Ferry Library.

Over the years, we have been everything from sea creatures to African adventurers, with a few jungle animals thrown in. Intrepid librarians have dressed up in spots, long flowing gowns and duck- billed hats, all in the name of community fun. We are the ones passing out bookmarks and candy too.

This year, again, we should be easy to spot. Just look for the bright yellow bins! Several years ago, Wendy Peterson, a library patron, originated the School Friends of the Library program. With a grant from the Dime Savings Bank, the library was able to purchase additional children's books and bright yellow bins to transport the books to elementary classrooms in Ledyard by volunteer parents. Let's just say, we have found another creative way to use the bins.

Since the summer reading theme is Catch the Reading Bug, look for bins and bugs in Ledyard Center on Sunday at 1:00.

Ledyard Library Friends

We all appreciate our friends. They may not be named Phoebe, Ross or Monica but they are near and dear to to us. The library is no different.

Most of the year, our friends are behind the scenes. You may not even know they are there, but we do. Twice a year, however, they shine. The Gales Ferry Library booksale starts on May 29 this year. If you are a dues paying member of the Ledyard Library Friends, you can come to the sneak peak on May 28 from 6:00 to 8:00. The Bill Booksale will take place in early September, the week after Labor Day and overlapping with the Ledyard Fair. These two events are the cornerstones of the fundraising efforts done by the Ledyard Library Friends.

Many of the items you take for granted in our libraries, would not even exist without the generosity of the Ledyard Library Friends. Programs, shelves, tables, computer desks, printers and media racks would all disappear if we lived in a friendless world.

The most amazing part of this is, however, is the small number of people who accomplish so much. It would seem if we had more friends, it would make life easier for the friends we have now and give the library even more to appreciate.

Do we have more friends out there? Ask how to participate in the Ledyard Library Friends at either library or when you visit the booksale.

Things They Never Taught You at Library School

Interesting things seem to happen nearly every day when you work in a library. Many of them are easily addressed by the wonderful course offerings librarians have sat through. Reference, cataloging, material selection and computer courses are very handy in solving the do you have" and "how do I find" problems. Every so often, however, something happens that you never were taught at library school.

Here is our quick list.

- squirrel mouth to mouth resuscitation (when the cute baby squirrels that fall out of the tree in front of the library are barely breathing)

-plunging toilets (the lady's room toilet is plugged again and you get to plunge it because you earn the big bucks)

-catching mice (what do you do when a little mouse runs across the floor)

-removing cars from the building (somebody missed the brake)

-cleaning up body fluids (use your imagination here)

-restarting the furnace (can't pay a repairman to come on the weekend)

-getting a cat out from under a car (patron won't leave until cat is removed)

That's our list, now please tell us yours.

National Library Week

In case you missed it, this past week was designated as National Library Week. Of course, here at the Ledyard Public Libraries, we think every week should be library week. We are possibly a little prejudiced.

Through history, however, there have been many famous people who valued libraries. In Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare wrote "They are the books, the arts, the academes, that show, contain and nourish all the world." Many years later, Lady Bird Johnson expressed her appreciation of libraries, "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." The famous author Lemony Snicket said "A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them."

I am sure Charles Schulz was a library fan. This week, a special patron of the Gales Ferry Library brought us a Peanut's cartoon about librarians and a lovely treat to celebrate National Library Week. Those of us who work in libraries understand their unique place in the community and it is always nice to have that celebrated.

Hopefully you won't suffer the fate of 19th century observer, Tom Masson, who said, "Seventy million books in America's libraries, but the one you want to read is always out." If only poor Tom had known to check with his librarian. I am sure she could have gotten it for him quickly through interlibrary loan or easily recommended a similiar title.

Magical History Tour

If the weather cooperates this Saturday, local historians Jan Bell and Kit Foster will be leading a walking tour of Gales Ferry Village. Even though I have lived in Gales Ferry for nearly thirty years, I know there is much I can learn from these two experts. Jan, who has authored several histories of the town, has actually lived in town for over seventy years. Kit is the author of the popular Images of America book, Ledyard and Gales Ferry. Coincidentally, these items are available for sale at the local libraries.

There are many questions about and places to explore in our fair village. Do you know where the original Gales Ferry Library was located? How about Norman's store or the Gales Ferry Country Club? What are the origins of the Harvard-Yale Regatta? Or is it the Yale-Harvard Regatta? Probably the biggest question is the name of the village. Why is it called Gales Ferry, when Roger Gale only owned the ferry for five years and others ran it much longer? We are also looking for the apostrophe that fell off Gale's at some unknown point.

So many questions, so many places on so few streets! Come walk with us and get to know our hometown.

Bracketology

I am not sure that bracketology is even a word. I am pretty sure it isn't in Websters, but it is definitely part of your vocabulary every March, if you are like millions of people who fill out those brackets for the NCAA mens, or maybe womens, basketball tournaments. ESPN even employs a full time bracketologist, although I am not sure what he does the rest of the year. Now that the tournaments have reached the sweet sixteen, you may, like me, just want to throw the thing out before another of your final four teams loses.

The fascination with brackets, however, continues. Just think what we could do with brackets in the literary world. We could start with a field of 64 contemporary authors. The heavy hitters like James Patterson, Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts and John Grisham would get number 1 seeds, with competition from the likes of Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, Stephen King and David Baldacci, while the mid-majors Steve Martini, Lisa Scottoline, Joy Fielding and Jeffrey Archer are probably 4th or 5th seeds. I hesitate to put anyone in the "just barely made it" sixteenth seeds, but they should be happy just to be included. I am sure there will be complaints from those who get left out. For them, we will have to invent an A.I.T. (Authors Invitational Tournament).

Who would be your final four picks? The heavy hitters prevail or an upstart winner like Sophie Kinsella?